Public records requests filed over the past two months by WMTW News 8 reveal more information about former Biddeford police officer Stephen Dodd’s history at the department, and why the chief of police cannot comment on this investigation.

In the late 1970s, Dodd was a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. It was then when Rick Alexander, whom WMTW first interviewed two weeks ago, claims Dodd sexually abused him multiple times.

After months of abuse, Alexander alleges it stopped when he confronted Dodd.

“I told him I was going to tell people, he took off,” Alexander said.

Alexander brought his allegations to the Maine Attorney General’s Office in 2003. No charges were filed.

Dodd joined the Biddeford Police Department in July 1978 at 21 years old. He retired in June 2003 at age 46, surrendering his certificate of eligibility with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

The chair of the academy at the time, who signed off on Dodd’s retirement letter, is Brian MacMaster, who has also served as chief of investigations for the Maine Attorney General’s Office since 1984.

Since March, more alleged victims have come forward, claiming assault at the hands of two former Biddeford officers between 1978 and 2003.

Their allegations have also been forward to the attorney general’s office and an investigation is underway.

WMTW has filed several public records requests with the City of Biddeford, the Biddeford Police Department, the Maine Attorney General’s Office and other agencies.

One record of note is from the minutes of a September 2003 Biddeford Police Commission meeting three months after Dodd’s retirement.

There, records say, “Citizen Stephen Dodd addressed the Commission, complaining that the Chief had not given him a retirement plaque and identification card.”

The minutes indicate the commission chair told Dodd that whether the chief issues a plaque is not something his panel oversees.

The minutes go on to say, “No action was taken on Mr. Dodd's request.”

Police Chief Roger Beaupre has declined to comment on the investigation, citing a state law forbidding him from comment on investigations.

However, in a records request we filed, a letter to a newspaper reporter from Beaupre says, “What I find particularly frustrating, is my inability to make comments on investigations on former employee conduct, nor am I permitted to discuss whether such investigations actually happened. Let me assure you that as Chief of Police then, and as Chief of Police now, I would not hesitate to take administrative action against an employee for violating standards of conduct. However, the accused employee is entitled to due process.”

WMTW reached out to Stephen Dodd’s attorney again Thursday and did not hear back.